1. Homer
2. Cicero
3. Vergil
4. Dante
5. Shakespeare

The biblical writers are not included in this list because their art was mysterious and of a different kind than these.  They are set in this order because each of the writers learned from and imitated those who went before him. 

The question for us is how do we raise a child who might climb in the 6th through 10th places on that list?

NOTHING "NEW" NEEDED

The Classical Liberal Arts Academy is not interested in adding yet another "new and improved" method for writing instruction...none of which ever justify their existence.  The best writers lived before us--not around us.  Our aim is to reverently restore and diligently employ what has always worked.  This is the purpose of the CLAA's Writers' School. 

Only the CLAA makes the effort to restore a complete program that the ancients would have been familiar with. We don't pretend that students without mastering Grammar, without logical training and without knowledge of Rhetoric, Ethics, Theology and History will ever write well.  Writing is not a skill you can buy with money and it doesn't come in a box.  There is no "program" that can remedy poor education. 

Wise men and women will write well as an essential part of a virtuous life full of action.  Others can work up an appearance of wisdom, but time will prove their ideas futile and their words empty.  We are not interested in appearances, but realities.

NOTHING ELSE NEEDED

The homeschool community is used to adding 1,001 individual programs and books to create a curriculum, but this is not prudent or productive.  Individual programs like IEW, Classical Writing, Classical Composition, etc.., may teach some basics about writing, but they ultimately have no foundation needed for continuing on to mastery.  Plus, you should try to eliminate all these disconnected programs that depend on YOU to make them work together.

Without a complete program that integrates Religion, Grammar, Logic, Rhetoric, History, Philosophy and Theology in the writing program, students will never be able to penetrate beneath the surface of writing skills.  No separate programs are needed for students in the CLAA's Writers' School.

FIGURES OF SPEECH ●
In this course beginning students survey the classical figures of speech, which form the basis for style.  This course teaches the features and functions of each of the figures of speech and provides enjoyable exercises in their use.  
Prerequisites:  None. 
Corequisites:  Grammar, Biblical Studies.

THE ART OF POETRY I ●
In this course students are introduced to the history, philosophy and practice of classical poetry.  Students are exercised in the Epigram, Pastoral, Elegy, Lyric, and Ode.  Students learn all poetic numbers and rhymes as well as which pertain to classical languages and which to English...and why.
Prerequisites:  None. 
Corequisites:  Grammar, World Chronology.

COMMONPLACES ●
In this course students are exercised in general questions of virtue and vice.  This may be viewed as the first course in essay writing and speechmaking, which build upon these exercises.  Proverbs are examples of commonplaces boiled down into concise sayings, which is a necessary exercise in the pursuit of wisdom and a focus of this course.
Prerequisites:  Classical Narrative
Corequisites:   Catechism, Dialectic

COMPARISON ●
In this course students are exercised in panegyrics, invectives, and comparison.  This course serves a double purpose. First, the powers of persuasion and expression receive continued exercise as students contemplate the qualities of individual persons in light of their circumstances.  Second, the student necessarily improves his own character through the study of the virtues and vices of others.  Competence in these forms is essential for future writing and speaking, which regularly draws upon ethical contemplation, and for professional applications in law, politics, theology, etc..
Prerequisites:  Commonplaces
Corequisites:  Dialectic, Rhetoric

THESES ●
In this course students are required to examine complex issues from both sides (thesis and antithesis).  Topics are political, philosophical and theological--but general in nature.  The aim of this course is to develop a student's ability to work through both sides of an issue that (a) he may argue for truth and not mere preference and (b) that he may learn to anticipate an opponent's best arguments and prepare their refutation in advance. 
Prerequisites:  Comparison
Corequisites:   Philosophy, Theology

THE ART OF POETRY II ●
In this course students continue in their studies of the history, philosophy and practice of classical poetry.  Students are exercised in the composition of Epic (Narrative), Tragic and Comic poetry in the classical tradition.  Aristotle, of course, is our guide.
Prerequisites:  World Chronology. 
Co-requisites:  Literature

DECLAMATIONS ●
The final exercise of classical writing instruction is the declamation.  The declamation requires a student to address a specific issue, muddied by the details of unique circumstances.  Students are exercised in both deliberative declamations (which seek to persuade an audience of future action) and forensic declamations (which persuade an audience of past actions).  These are the questions of real life and the ultimate challenge of a classically trained writer.  It is important to note that the declamation provides the natural context for research writing.
Prerequisites:  Theses
Corequisites:   Philosophy, Theology

CLAA WRITERS' SOCIETY ●
The CLAA will invite its finest student writers to join the CLAA Writers' Society.  In the Society, students will will receive individualized coaching and advanced training to continue their development in the craft, while enjoying the fellowship of other society members.